Modulation method for minimizing pirating and/or unauthorized copying and/or unauthorized access of/to data on/from data media including compact discs and digital versatile discs

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a technique for authenticating data stored on media in order to prevent piracy. According to the present invention, a lookup table contains broken or modified modulation rules comprising one or more authentication keys or components thereof, that are derived by the table&#39;s intentional breaking of standard 8-14 and 8-16 modulation rules. The authentication keys are formed and remain hidden without being transferred in the audio/video. Additionally, the lookup table is employed using conventional hardware and/or software in CD or DVD players. Each output value according to the present invention is a function of the physical characteristics of a disc that does not travel with the audio or video or graphics data. Authentication systems of the present invention optionally encompass singular, multiple or multi-level authentication systems, each of which successively must be deciphered before the audio/video is finally available.

PRIORITY DATA

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional Application No.60/086,132, filed on May 20, 1998, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to anti-data pirating technology. Morespecifically, the invention relates to the use of lookup tables tointentionally break or modify standard modulation rules, such as EFM and8-16 modulation methods, creating authentication key(s), for preventingpiracy and/or unauthorized access and/or unauthorized copying of data,such as audio and/or video data from a data source, such as compactdiscs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), hard drive discs, anInternet Service Provider (ISP), and other data discs and/or datasources via direct connection, or via a local and/or global network,such as the Internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are two basic methods for recording sound and music—analog anddigital. See e.g. Ken C. Pohlmann, “The Compact Disc”, THE COMPUTERMUSIC & DIGITAL AUDIO SERIES, Volume 5. The above-mentioned audioseries, which was published by A-R Editions, Inc., in Madison, Wis., is,along with all volumes therein, incorporated by reference.

In analog recording, the recording medium (a tape) varies continuouslyaccording to the sound signal. In other words, an analog tape storessound signals as a continuous stream of magnetism. The magnetism, whichmay have any value within a limited range, varies by the same amount asthe sound-signal voltage.

In digital recording, the sound signal is sampled electronically andrecorded as a rapid sequence of separately coded measurements. In otherwords, a digital recording comprises rapid measurements of a soundsignal in the form of on-off binary codes represented by ones and zeros.In this digital system, zeros are represented by indentations or pits ina disc surface, and ones are represented by unpitted surfaces or landreflections of the disc, such that a compact disc contains a spiraltrack of binary codes in the form of sequences of minute pits producedby a laser beam.

Music that is input to a digital recording and the requisite series ofreproduction processes, must pass through the recording side of a pulsecode modulation (PCM) system. A master recording of the music is storedin digital form on a magnetic tape or optical disc. Once the magnetictape has been recorded, mixed and edited, it is ready for reproductionas a CD. The CD manufacturer then converts the master tape to a masterdisc, which is replicated to produce a desired number of CDs. At the endof the PCM system is the reproduction side, the CD player, which outputsthe pre-recorded music.

If digital technology is used in all intermediate steps between therecording and reproduction sides of the PCM system, music remains inbinary code throughout the entire chain; music is converted to binarycode when it enters the recording studio, and stays in binary code untilit is converted back to analog form when it leaves the CD player and isaudible to a listener. In most CD players, digital outputs therefrompreserve data in its original form until the data reaches the poweramplifier, and the identical audio information that recorded in thestudio is thereby preserved on the disc.

Optical Storage

The physical specifications for a compact disc system are shown in PriorArt FIG. 1. They were developed jointly by Sony and Philips, and aredefined in the standards document entitled Red Book, which isincorporated herein by reference. The CD standard is also contained inthe International Electrotechnical Commission standard entitled, CompactDisc Digital Audio System, also incorporated herein by reference. Discmanufacturers, as well as CD player manufacturers, obtain a CD licenseto use these specifications.

All disc dimensions, including those pertaining to pit and physicalformations, which encode data, are defined in the CD standard. Forexample, specifications information on sampling frequency, quantizationword length, data rate, error correction code, and modulation scheme areall defined in the standard. Properties of the optical system that readsdata from the disc using a leaser beam are also defined in the standard.Moreover, basis specifications relevant to CD player design is locatedin the signal format specifications.

Referring to Prior Art FIG. 2, the physical characteristics of thecompact disc surface structure are described. Each CD is less than 5inches in diameter whose track thickness is essentially thinner than ahair and whose track length averages approximately 3 and a half miles.The innermost portion of the disc is a hole, with a diameter of 15 mm,that does not hold data. The hole provides a clamping area for the CDplayer to hold the CD firmly to the spindle motor shaft.

Data is recorded on a surface area of the disc that is 35.5 mm wide. Alead-in area rings the innermost data area, and a lead-out area ringsthe outermost area. Both lead-in and lead-out areas contain non-audiodata used to control the CD player. Generally, a change in appearance inthe reflective data surface of a disc marks the end of musicalinformation.

A transparent plastic substrate comprises most of the CD's 1.2 mmthickness. Viewing a magnified portion of the CD surface, as shown inPrior Art FIG. 2, the top surface of the CD is covered with a very thinmetal layer of generally aluminum, silver or gold. Data is physicallycontained in pits impressed along the CD's top surface. Above thismetalized pit surface and disc substrate lies another thin protectivelacquer coating (10 to 30 micrometers). An identifying label (5micrometers) is printed on top of the lacquer coating.

A system of mirrors and lenses sends a beam of laser light to read thedata. A laser beam is applied to the underside of a CD and passesthrough the transparent substrate and back again. The beam is focused onthe metalized data surface that is sandwiched or embedded inside thedisc. As the disc rotates, the laser beam moves across the disc from thecenter to the edge. This beam produces on-off code signals that areconverted into, for example, a stereo electric signal.

The Pit Track

Prior Art FIG. 3 shows a typical compact disc pit surface. Each CDcontains a track of pits arranged in a continuous spiral that runs fromthe inner circumference to the outer edge. The starting point begins atthe inner circumference because, in some manufacturing processes, tracksat the outer diameter of a CD is more generally prone to manufacturingdefects. Therefore, CDs with shorter playing time provide a greatermanufacturing yield, which has led to adoption of smaller diameter discs(such as 8 cm CD-3 discs) or larger diameter discs (such as 20 and 30 cmCD-Video discs).

Prior Art FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a typical track pitch. The distancebetween successive tracks is 1.6 micrometers. That adds up toapproximately 600 tracks per millimeter. There are 22,188 revolutionsacross a disc's entire signal surface of 35.5 millimeters. Hence, a pittrack may contain 3 billion pits. Because CDs are constructed in adiffraction-limited manner—creating the smallest formations of the wavenature of light—track pitch acts as a diffraction grating; namely, byproducing a rainbow of colors. In fact, CD pits are among the smallestof all manufactured formations.

The linear dimensions of each track on a CD is the same, from thebeginning of a spiral to the end. Consequently, each CD must rotate withconstant linear velocity (CLV), a condition whereby uniform relativevelocity is maintained between the CD and the pickup.

To accomplish this, the rotational speed of a CD varies depending on theposition of the pickup. The disc rotates at a playing speed which variesfrom 500 revolutions per minute at the center, where the track starts,to 200 revolutions per minute at the edge. This difference in speed isaccounted for by the number of tracks at each position.

For example, because each outer track revolution contains more pits thaneach inner track revolution, the CD must be slowed down as it plays inorder to maintain a constant rate of data. So, when the pickup isreading the inner circumference of the CD, the disc rotates at thehigher speed of 500 rpm. And as the pickup moves outwardly towards thedisc's edge, the rotational speed gradually decreases to 200 rpm. Thus,a constant linear velocity is maintained, such that all of the pits areread at the same speed. The CD player constantly reads fromsynchronization words from the data and adjusts the disc speed to keepthe data rate constant.

A CD's constant linear velocity (CLV) system is significantly differentfrom an LP's system. A major difference stems from the fact that aturntable's motor rotates at a constant velocity rate of 33⅓ grooves.This translates into outer grooves having a greater apparent velocitythan inner grooves, probably explained by the occurrence thathigh-frequency responses of inner grooves is inferior to that of outergrooves. If a CD used constant angular velocity (CAV) as opposed to theCLV system, pits on the outside diameter would have to be longer thanpits on the inner diameter of the disc. This latter scenario wouldresult in decreased data density and decreased playing time of a CD.

Like constant linear velocity, light beam modulation is also importantto the optical read-out system that decodes the tracks. See Prior ArtFIG. 5. A brief theoretical discussion on the distinctions between pitand land light travel explains this point.

Generally, when light passes from one medium to another with a differentindex of refraction, the light bends and its wavelength changes. Thevelocity at which light passes is important, because when velocity isslow, the beam bends and focusing occurs. Owing to several factors, suchas the refractive index, disc thickness and laser lens aperture, thelaser beam's size on the disc surface is approximately 800 μm. However,the laser beam is focused to approximately 1.7 μm at the pit surface. Inother words, the laser beam is focused to a point that is a littlelarger than a pit width. This condition minimizes the effects of dust orscratches on the CD's outer surface, because the size of dust particlesor scratches are effectively reduced along with the laser beam. Anyobstruction less than 0.5 ml are essentially insignificant and causes noerror in the readout.

As previously noted, a CD's entire pit surface is metalized. Inaddition, the reflective flat surface between each pit, (i.e. a land),causes almost 90 percent of laser light to be reflected back into thepickup. Looking at a spiral track from a laser's perspective on theunderside of a disc, as shown in Prior Art FIG. 5, pits appears asbumps. The height of each bump is generally between 0.11 and 0.13 μm,such that this dimension is smaller than the laser beam's wavelength(780 nanometers) in air. The dimension of the laser beam's wavelength inair is larger than the laser's wavelength (500 nanometers) inside thedisc substrate, with a refractive index of 1.55. In short, the height ofeach bump is, therefore, one-quarter of the laser's wavelength in thesubstrate.

Scientifically, this means that light striking a land will travel twiceas far than light striking a bump. This discrepancy in light traveldistances serve to modulate the intensity of a light beam. This allowsdata physically encoded on the disc to be recoverable by the laser.

Also, the pits and intervening reflective lands on the disc's surface donot directly designate ones and zeros. Rather, it is each pit's edge,whether leading or trailing, that is a 1 and all areas in between,whether inside or outside a pit, that are designated as zeros. Still,each pit and reflective land lengths vary incrementally. Thecombinations of 9 different pit and land lengths of varying dimensionsphysically encode the data.

Error Correction

Error correction is one of the major advantages of digital audio storagemedia, such as compact discs, over analog media, like LPS. Errorcorrection simply corrects the error.

When you scratch an LP, for instance, the grooves are irrevocablydamaged, along with the information contained in them. On every replayof that record, there will be a click or pop when the damaged part ofthe groove passes beneath the needle.

This is not the case for CDs. The data on every disc is speciallyencoded with an error correction code. When a scratched CD is played,the CD player uses the error correction code to perform error correctionevery time the disc is played. Thus, it delivers the original undamageddata, instead of the damaged data.

CD Player Overview

The CD player contains two primary systems: an audio data processingsystem and a control system. Prior Art FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram ofa CD player showing an audio path as well as servo and controlfunctions. Generally, the data path, which directs modulated light fromthe pickup through a series of processing circuits, consists of severalelements that ultimately produces a stereo analog signal. These elementsof the data path include a data separator, buffer, de-interleaving RAM,error correction circuit, concealment circuit, oversampling filter,digital-to-analog (D/A) converters, and output filters.

The servo and control system, in addition to a display system, directsthe mechanical operation of the CD player, such as the player's spindledrive, and auto-tracking and auto-focusing functions. The servo, controland display system also directs the user interface to the CD player'scontrols and displays.

A CD player uses a sophisticated optical read-out system to read data,control motor speed, track the pit spiral and adjust pickup positionsand timings. While a spindle motor is used to rotate the disc withconstant linear velocity, in another servo loop, information from thedata itself determines correct rotating speed and data output rate.

User controls and their interface to the player's circuitry is monitoredby a microprocessor. A software program controls several modes of playeroperation. Subcode data is also used to direct the pickup to the properdisc location. For example, a time code is used to locate the start ofany track.

Once data is recovered from the CD, the player must go through a seriesof activities to decode audio information in order to reconstruct anaudio signal; namely, the EFM (eight-to-fourteen modulation) data ismodulated, and errors are detected and corrected using an errorcorrection algorithm. Additionally, using interpolation and muting, theaudibility of gross errors is minimized.

Subsequent to decoding of the audio information, the digital data mustbe converted to a stereo analog signal. This conversion process requiresone or two digital-to-analog (D/A) converters and low-pass filters (inanalog or digital domain).

An audio de-emphasis circuit exists in the audio output stages of CDevery player. Some CDs are configured for improved signal-to-noiseratio. This configuration is accomplished by encoding the CD with anaudio pre-emphasis flag in the subcode, where high frequencies on amaster tape is slightly boosted (50/15 μs characteristic). The result,on CD playback, is inverse attenuation of the disc's high frequencies,because the player switches in the de-emphasis circuit when required, sothat the signal-to-noise ratio is slightly improved.

The final output circuit is the buffer, which ensures that the CDplayer's line level output is appropriate to drive necessary externalamplifiers with a minimum amount of analog distortion.

Pickup Design

With respect to a player's pickup design, a CD may contain as many asthree billion pits, all orderly arranged on a spiral track. Each opticalread-out system, which comprises an entire lens assembly and pickup,must focus, track and read data stored on a spiral track. The lensassembly, which is a combination of the laser beam and a reader, must besmall enough to move across the underside of a disc in response totracking information and user random-access programming. Moreover,movement of the pickup from a CD's center to its edge must be focuseddespite adverse playing conditions, such as when a CD is dirty orvibrating.

Auto-Tracking

Unlike an LP, which has grooves to guide the pickup, a CD has a singularspiral pit track running from a center circle to its outer edge. Theonly object that touches the disc surface is an intensity-modulatedlaser light, which carries data and which is susceptible toobstructions, such as vibrations. Four standard methods have beendesigned for tracking pit spiral: (1) one-beam push-pull; (2) one-beamdifferential phase detection; (3) one-beam high frequency wobble; and(4) three-beam.

Auto-Focusing

The optical pickup must be precise in order to accommodate approximately600,000 pits per second. Even the flattest disc is not perfectly flat;disc specifications acknowledge this by allowing for a verticaldeflection of ±600 μm. In addition, a ±2 μm tolerance is required forthe laser beam to stay focused, otherwise the phase interference betweendirected and reflected light is lost, along with audio data, trackingand focusing information. Therefore, the objective lens must be able tore-focus while the disc's surface deviates vertically.

An auto-focus system, driven by a servo motor, manages this deviation,using control electronics and a servo motor to drive the objective lens.Three techniques are available for generating a focusing signal: (1) acylindrical lens using astigmatism; (2) a knife edge using Foucaultfocusing; and (3) critical angle focusing.

Any pickup must perform both tracking and focusing functionssimultaneously. Therefore, a completed pickup design would use acombination of the above-mentioned auto-tracking and auto-focusingtechniques. Two standard pickup designs stand out from the rest whenauto-tracking and auto-focusing functions are combined: (1) one-beampush-pull tracking with Foucault focusing, (hereinafter “one-beampickup”); and (2) three-beam tracking with astigmatic focusing,(hereinafter “three-beam pickup”).

Both of these designs have been commercialized among manufacturers.One-beam pickups, which are usually mounted on a distal end of apivoting arm, swings the pickup across a disc in an arc. On the otherhand, three-beam pickups are mounted on a sled, which slides linearlyacross the disc.

The following prior art discussion will be limited to three-beam pickupsonly.

Three-Beam Pickup Optical Design

Prior Art FIG. 7 shows the optical path of a three-beam pickup, whichuses a laser as the light source. A laser is used, rather than a bulb,for a number of reasons. First, a laser uses an optical resonator tostimulate atoms to a higher energy level that induces them to radiate inphase, a condition necessary to achieving sharper data surface focus andproper intensity modulation from the pit height.

Second, a laser light, unlike a bulb's light, which radiates all thefrequencies of a spectrum at all different phases, is composed of asingle frequency and is coherent in phase. An important advantage ofphase coherency is phase cancellation in the beam that is produced bydisc pits, so that disc data can be read. Most CD pickups use analuminum gallium arsenide semiconductor laser with a 0.5 milliwattoptical output that radiates a coherent-phase laser beam with a 780nanometer wavelength; the beam is comprised of near-infrared light.

Referring to Prior Art FIG. 7, a laser diode is positioned adjacent thefocal point of a collimator lens with a long focal distance, for thepurpose of making the divergent light rays parallel. A monitor diode(not shown) is also placed adjacent the laser diode in order to controlpower to the laser. The monitor diode stabilizes the laser's output intwo important ways; first, by compensating for temperature changes so asto prevent thermal runaway; and second, by conducting current inproportion to the light output of the laser.

The three-beam pickup is so termed because it uses three beams fortracking and reading a CD. To generate these beams, a laser light firstpasses through a diffraction grating, which resembles a screen withevenly-spaced slits of a few laser wavelengths apart. As the beam passesthrough the grating, the light diffracts into fringes of parallel lightbeams. When the collection of these beams is re-focused, the collectionappears as a single, bright centered beam with a series of successivelyless intense beams on either side of the center beam.

It is this diffraction pattern that actually strikes the CD, where thecenter beam is used for both reading data and focusing. In a three-beampickup, two of the series of successively less intense beams, or twosecondary beams, are used for tracking only. In a one-beam pickup, datareading, focusing and tracking is accomplished with just one beam.

Another element in the three-beam optical design is the polarizationbeam splitter, or PBS, which consists of two prisms having a common 45degree facing that acts as a polarizing prism. The purpose of the PBS isto direct the laser light to the disc, and to angle the reflected light(from the disc) to the photosensor. In some designs, a half-silveredmirror is used.

In Prior Art FIG. 7, the collimator lens is shown as following the PBS,even though it can precede the PBS in other designs. Once the lightexits the collimator lens, it then passes through a quarter-wave plate(QWP). The QWP is an anisotropic material that exhibits properties withdifferent values when measured in different directions, so that whenlight passes through the QWP, it rotates the plane of polarization ofeach passing light beam. This rotation is required to make the PBS work.

The anisotropic quality of the quarter-wave plate is equally importantto the process occurring on the right-hand side of the plate. Lightpassing through the QWP to the CD, will be reflected from the CD backagain through the QWP and become polarized. More importantly, the lightis polarized in a plane at right angles to that of the incident light.

In other words, the reflected polarized light re-entering thequarter-wave plate (from right to left) will pass through the collimatorand strike the polarization beam splitter. Because the polarization beamsplitter passes light in one plane only (e.g., horizontally) butreflects light in the other plane (e.g., vertically), the PBS willproperly deflect the reflected beam toward the photodiode sensor to readthe digital data.

The final optics element in the path to the CD is the objective lens.The objective lens is used to focus laser beams into a convergent coneof light onto the CD's data surface, taking into account the refractiveindex of the polycarbonate substrate of the disc. Convergence is afunction of the numerical aperture (NA) of the lens, with most pickupsusing an objective lens having an NA of about 0.5.

As mentioned earlier, the laser beam's size on the outer surface of theCD's transparent polycarbonate substrate is approximately 800micrometers in diameter. Since the refractive index of the substrate is1.55 and its thickness is 1.2 millimeters, the laser beam's size isnarrowed to 1.7 micrometers at the reflective surface, a size slightlywider than the pit width of 0.5 micrometer and comparable in width tothe light's wavelength.

When the laser beam strikes a land, (the smooth surface between twopits), light is almost totally reflected. When the light strikes a pit(viewed as a bump by the laser), diffraction and destructiveinterference cause less light to be reflected.

In short, all three intensity-modulated light beams pass through theobjective lens, the QWP, collimator lens, and the PBS. Before hittingthe photodiode, they pass through a singlet lens and a cylindrical lens.

In any optical pickup system, automatic focusing is an absoluteprerequisite. Disc warpage and other irregularities causes verticaldeflections in the CD's data surface. Such movement would place the dataout of the pickup's depth of focus, essentially making it impossible forthe pickup to distinguish between pit height and land phase differences.

The unique properties of astigmatism are used to achieve auto-focusingin a three-beam CD player. This is illustrated in Prior Art FIG. 8.

The cylindrical lens, (see Prior Art FIG. 7), which prefaces thephotodiode array, detects an out-of-focus condition. The condition isdirectly related to the distance between the objective lens and the CD'sreflective surface. As this distance varies, the focal point changes,and the image projected by the cylindrical lens changes its shape. Theinter-relationship of the above elements is illustrated in Prior ArtFIG. 8.

Changes in an image on the photodiode generates a focus correctionsignal. For example, when the distance between the objective lens andthe CD decreases, the image projected by the lens moves further from thecylindrical lens, and the pattern becomes elliptical. Conversely, whenthe distance between the objective lens and the CD increases, the imageprojected by all lenses (e.g., the objective lens, an intermediateconvex lens and the cylindrical lens) moves closer to the lens. However,the elliptical pattern that is formed is now rotated 90 degrees from thefirst elliptical pattern.

In the third and final scenario, which is when the disc surface liesexactly at the focal point of the objective lens, the image reflectedthrough the intermediate convex lens and cylindrical lens is unchanged,and a circular spot strikes the center of the photodiode.

An important aspect of the three-beam auto-focus system is correctionvoltages. A photodiode uses a laser beam's intensity level to generate afocus correction voltage, which in turn generates a control signal.These electrical signals control the mechanical motion of a servo motor,which is responsible for moving the objective lens along an optical axisin response to any vertical disc motion. Servo-controlled movement ofthe objective lens during disc motion results in automatic focusing.

Prior Art FIG. 9 illustrates a typical servo motor used to move theobjective lens in the optical path. The servo motor consists of a coiland magnet structure generally used in loudspeakers.

Operation of a CD player begins when a CD is first loaded into theplayer. Technically, an electrical control signal is sent into theoptical pickup system, which causes the laser to turn on, and theobjective lens to move vertically until a focus condition is reached.

Then, the auto-focusing system takes over, except if two negativesituations occur. If no CD is detected, the automatic focusing systemtries again, and cuts off if it fails to detect a CD again. If theauto-focus is inoperative, such as when the CD tray is open, the systempulls back the objective lens to prevent damage to the lens or CD.Otherwise, the automatic focusing system performs its operation smoothlyby keeping the pickup properly positioned beneath the spinning disc, ineffect maintaining focus to within a tolerance of approximately ±0.5micrometers.

Content Scrambling System

Currently, encryption for data media, such as DVDs, involves one key. Itis a fairly simple 40-bit scheme. There is good authentication of theplatform, which is performed by various key exchanges within themechanisms between the source drive and the actual platform decryptingthe data.

A content scrambling system (CSS) is included in every DVD player. CSSis a method of encrypting a disc that the information technology (IT)and motion picture industries agreed upon. In order to be a licensed tomanufacture DVD players, a company is required to obey certain rulespertaining to the uses (and non-uses) that a platform can perform, aspart of a license agreement. A company must be a licensee under CSS inorder to build a player of any form.

While the present invention is not required to incorporate the CSSencryption system, it could be one level of encryption, if a multi-levelencryption is employed. Audio information is generally encrypted priorto being burned into a disc, such as a CD. Hence, there is no plaintext; encrypted information only is contained on a CD. So, if a userseeks to access information contained on the CD, whether for listeningor copying purposes, the user would have to decrypt the data in order tohear sensible audio data.

In general, existing ideas in the field appear to bury authenticationkeys within encrypted information that is burned into the disc.Authentication keys are buried using various authentication processes,which verify that the platform device—whether a computer, CD player, DVDplayer, or the like—is a licensed device and, consequently, obeyscertain copyright rules. Eventually, the licensed device uncovers theburied authentication key(s) and decrypts the data contained on thedisc. So, the system needs to find the key before being eligible fordeciphering the audio data.

The following prior patents represent the state of the art of preventingunauthorized copying of data, and are all hereby incorporated byreference:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,325 to Sharples, Jr. et al. discloses a high speedcopying of audio programs on optical CDs. The master CD is encoded usingAdaptive Delta Modulation (ADM).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,704 to Takagi et al. prevents copying of an opticaldisc. Data is stored in a record protected area and in a recordunprotected area, where each such sector has a representative addressthat helps to determine whether the data is in the record protected areaor in the record unprotected area. Only data from the record unprotectedarea with an appropriate address can be copied.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,679 to Ryan discloses a video recording and copyprevention system. The video signal includes a copy-protect signal.Designated detectors detect the presence of copy-protected signal(s) andinhibit copying of such signals. A video correlate enables one toplayback a copy-protected program for viewing only and generates aninhibit signal to prevent copying of a copy-protected signal.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,898 to Yoshida, an erasing program erases thenon-rewritable portion so that it cannot be copied on a copy disc duringunauthorized copying of an optical disc.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,735 to Preuss et al. uses a digital code signalembedded with the original audio signal. The digital code getstransferred to the copy disc.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,718 to Narashimhalu et al., non-uniformities andtheir attributes in the storage medium is used as a unique signature.This signature is used to derive a key for encrypting the information onthe storage medium. During copying, the signature gets mutated and theinformation cannot be decrypted. During authorized copying, theinformation is decrypted by generating a key from the signature of thedistribution medium.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,852 to Itami et al., data is stored in a useraccessible area and in a user inaccessible area, which are both comparedto determine the authenticity of the recording medium.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,260 to Ryan, copy-protected CDs haveauthenticating signature recorded on them. An authentication signatureis obtained by a deliberately induced radial position modulation givingan error voltage corresponding to the elliptical errors. When playingthe CD, the signature causes the player to correctly decrypt the programwhereas, when playing an unauthorized copy of the CD, the absence of thesignature is detected and false data is generated and the player doesnot play.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,773 to Kondo discloses the recording of datatogether with a cipher key information for copy protection.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,339 to Nagano discloses a system that converts datato digital data, which is then FM modulated with key information to varythe widths of the pits at the time of recording. During reproduction,the data is read out and if the key information is determined to bemissing, copying is prevented.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,717 to Ito et al. discloses a CD-ROM that has acharacter/graphic pattern for copy protection. Password and informationon the position of the character/graphic pattern bearing area of theCD-ROM are stored beforehand in a memory included in the CD-ROM'scontroller of the playback system. The CD-ROM controller, therefore,will have the means for deciphering the enciphered password. Datamodulated by the EFM modulation method into bits of predetermined widthand height having values corresponding to the EFM.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,718 to Schiewe discloses an optical disc havingshallow pits bearing an identification/logo/watermark. The lands andpits are of different lengths for identification/authorization purposeswhen copying a CD.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,276 to Brugger discloses the distribution of digitalmusic with copyright protection. An encryption table is embedded in themusic CD player and includes a decryption module that uses theencryption table for authorized playing of music/information.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,281 to Antonini discloses an authorized access thatuses mingling of data elements of the program memory to be protectedaccording to a secret order. To use this memory, a transconding deviceis used. The transcending device is in the form of a memory containingseveral tables, only one of which gives the right transconding dataelements.

One problem with one or more of the above-mentioned conventionalencryption/decryption systems is that a pirate or hacker seeking to hackinto the encryption process on a disc could do so by playing theencrypted music, finding the decryption key, which is buried, mixed andinterleaved with the audio data or the encrypted audio data, and usingthat key to decrypt the audio on the disc.

In other words, accompaniment of the decryption key within the audiodata lends itself to discovery, even if the audio data is played in anencrypted form. A hacker could obtain decryption key(s) even if theencrypted audio data was placed onto an unlicensed computer platformhaving a DVD ROM drive that did not obey copyright protection rules,because if the audio is later played back, the key would be output alongwith the encrypted audio data.

An additional problem in one or more of the prior art references is thatkeys specific to, or derived from, the physical construction of the CDare not constructed or determined in a manner that is difficult todetect by a hacker. A further problem in the prior art is that thephysical characteristics of the CD which are used to derive a key forauthorized copying, are transferred in the audio and may be accessibleto the hacker.

Yet another problem in one or more of the prior art references is thatthe solutions proposed therein require significant additional hardwareand/or software to be implemented. That is, these prior art techniquesdo not take advantage of existing hardware/software within the CD or DVDplayer that can be used effectively to prevent unauthorized copying.

Yet another problem in one or more of the prior art references is thatthe solutions proposed therein are expensive, and incompatible withexisting CD or DVD players. Hence, current solutions to unauthorizedcopying are difficult and impractical in their implementation.

Yet another problem in one or more of the prior art references is thatthe solutions proposed therein are limited to CD and/or DVD players, anddoes not consider or structure such techniques when data is transmittedfrom, to, and/or over local and/or global networks, such as theInternet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide amethod and/or apparatus for minimizing pirating of, or unauthorizedaccess to, data on a data media that is inexpensive, and compatible withexisting CD and/or DVD players, and other forms of data recording and/orplaying devices.

It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to providea method and/or apparatus for minimizing pirating of, or unauthorizedaccess to, data on a data media that is manageable and practical in itsimplementation.

It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to providea method and/or apparatus for minimizing pirating of, or unauthorizedaccess to, data on a data media that does not require significantadditional hardware and/or software in its implementation.

It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to providea method and/or apparatus for minimizing pirating of, or unauthorizedaccess to, data on a data media that uses and/or adapts existinghardware/software within, for example, the CD or DVD player that can beused effectively to prevent unauthorized copying.

It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to providea method and/or apparatus for minimizing pirating of, or unauthorizedaccess to, data on a data media that uses or creates data keys specificto, or derived from, the physical construction of the CD in a mannerthat is difficult to detect by a hacker.

It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to providea method and/or apparatus for minimizing pirating of, or unauthorizedaccess to, data on a data media that uses the physical characteristicsof the CD or other data disc/data media to derive a key for authorizedcopying, and which key is prevented from being transferred in the audioand, therefore, not accessible to the hacker.

The present invention relates generally to a method/system of preventingunauthorized copying of data on data media, including CDs and DVDs.Generally, an authorized CD is designed to require decoding by anauthorized disc player. The authorized CD includes certain informationused by an authorized CD player for playing music. An unauthorizedcopied CD, however, does not have the requisite encryption/decryptionkey(s) necessary for decoding.

Consequently, a feature and advantage of the present invention is toprevent piracy of audio and/or video data or other data from discs orother data media; that is, to provide greatly enhanced security measuresagainst data pirating. The present invention is based, in part, on mydiscovery that the authorization key(s) need not necessarily betransferred in the audio using conventional hardware and/or software inCD or DVD players that may be adapted in one or more ways describedbelow.

The above features and advantages are accomplished generally by using alook-up table, which is a table of authentication keys stored on a datamedia memory device, such as a CD, in conjunction with, for example, astandard 8-16 or 8-14 modulation system as a method for embeddingauthentication key(s) on the signal surface of a disc, and inconjunction with a detector, which detects modulation resulting frombreaking or modifying standard modulation rules.

Singular or multi-level authentication systems may be used forpreventing unauthorized copying of audio data on a disc. Similarly, twoor three different authentication systems, each of which successivelymust be authenticated before the audio is finally available, may also beused.

Advantageously, the present invention optionally uses three or fourdifferent sources for making or compiling a long or compound keys. Thus,in other words, instead of, or in addition to, having a multi-layeredauthentication system, the present invention optionally includes amulti-level authentication key, each component of which must be found inorder to build the whole key to perform the entire authenticationprocess.

According to the present invention, a look-up table is employed tointentionally break or modify standard eight-to-fourteen andeight-to-sixteen modulation rules. Intentional breaking/modifyingresults in broken or modified rule output values that compriseauthentication key(s) or components thereof. A method authenticates themedia and/or the data stored on the media, in order to prevent piracyand/or unauthorized access and/or unauthorized copying of the datastored on the media.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the authenticationkeys are optionally embedded in the data disc on a per track basis, orat intervals throughout the disc. This means that the same type ofauthentication process may be performed for each track to be played, ormay be performed through the playing/recording process. Each track of aCD can optionally include a different authentication key.

To achieve these and other objects, the present invention provides acomputer program product that stores computer instructions thereon forinstructing a computer to perform a process of authenticating a datamedia, such as a CD or DVD, as fraudulent/pirated or non-fraudulent.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a methodauthenticates at least one of a media and data stored on the media inorder to prevent at least one of piracy, unauthorized access andunauthorized copying of the data stored on the media. Each brokenmodulation rule output value, which is derived from a physicalcharacteristic of a data disc, is introduced with the original datastored on the data disc. Each output value includes at least oneauthentication key or at least one component of an authentication key,for authenticating whether the media and/or data is authorized.

The method includes the following sequential, non-sequential and/orsequence independent steps: (a) reading the data from the media; (b)detecting the modulation of at least one broken modulation rule outputvalue; (c) deriving an embedded authentication key or component thereofresponsive to detecting step (b); (d) comparing the embeddedauthentication key or component thereof, to at least one authenticationkey or component thereof; (e) authenticating at least one of the mediaand the data responsive to comparing step (d); and (f) outputting dataas at least one of audio, video, audio data, video data and digital datasubstantially free of the modulation of at least one broken modulationrule output value.

The method also includes the steps of: (g) locating each brokenmodulation rule output value on at least one of a per track basis andinterval basis throughout said media such that said authentication step(e) is performed for at least one of each track to be played, throughoutplayback and throughout recording; and converting said data into astereo analog signal without transferring, in the data, the modulationof each broken rule output value used to derive the embeddedauthentication key or component thereof.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a dataplayer includes a data processor performing the steps of: (a) readingthe data from the media; (b) detecting the modulation of at least onebroken modulation rule output value; (c) deriving an embeddedauthentication key or component thereof responsive to detecting step(b); and (d) comparing the embedded authentication key or componentthereof, to at least one authentication key or component thereof. Thedata player authenticates the media and/or data responsive to comparingstep, and outputs data as either audio, video, audio data, video dataand digital data substantially free of the modulation of each brokenmodulation rule output value.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a data messagecomprises at least one authentication key, or component thereof, formedby modulation via at least one lookup table used to create brokenmodulation rule output values. These values comprise the authenticationkey or component thereof for authenticating whether a data message isauthenticated. The modulation of each broken rule output value cannot bereadily altered, obscured nor removed from the data message withoutsimultaneously degrading or impairing a quality of an audible componentof the data message, such that the data message is transmittedsubstantially free of the modulation of each broken rule output valuethereby preventing a destination processor from reading and subsequentlyauthenticating the data message.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a data disc comprisesmedia containing the modulation of each broken rule output valuecomprising at least one authentication key or component thereof forauthenticating whether at least one of the media and/or data isauthenticated.

A computer or processor driven system, tangible medium includinginstructions thereon, and a process is also provided.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the important features ofthe invention in order that the detailed description thereof thatfollows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will perform the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be used as a basis forthe designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying outthe several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public, generally, and especiallyscientists, engineers and practitioners in the art, who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosureof the application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

The objects of the invention, together with other apparent objects ofthe invention, along with the various features of novelty thatcharacterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a betterunderstanding of the invention, its operating advantages and thespecific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings and descriptive matter, which illustrate preferredembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a conventional specification table for a conventionalcompact disc system.

FIG. 2 shows a scale drawing of a conventional CD data surface.

FIG. 3 shows a typical compact disc pit surface.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a conventional pit track.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional bump height on a CD surface.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a conventional CD player showing audiopath as well as servo and control functions.

FIG. 7 shows an optical path of a conventional three-beam pickup system.

FIG. 8 shows the properties of astigmatism used to generate anauto-focus correction signal in a conventional three-beam pickup system.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional servo motor used to move the objective lensin an optical path.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram employing use of a look-up table embodying amodulation technique according to the present invention, during themanufacturing process of a data disc.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of a CD player of the present invention,which includes a lookup table, demodulator unit and a fraud detector.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of a the decision logic describing theauthentication process of a CD to be played on a CD player.

FIGS. 13-16 show a flow chart of the decision logic describing theauthentication process of a CD to be copied by a CD recorder.

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a main central processing unit forimplementing the computer processing in accordance with a computerimplemented embodiment of the present invention when the data playerand/or recorder is part of a personal computing system.

FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram of the internal hardware of thecomputer of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the internal hardware of the computer ofFIG. 17 in accordance with a second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of an exemplary memory medium that can beused with disc drives illustrated in FIGS. 17-19.

FIG. 21 shows a plurality of disc players, disc recorders and workstations connected to a global network, such as an Internet.

FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of the process by which broken modulationrules are intentionally embedded into an electronic audio/video file,and are used as a key or keys for authenticating the efile.

FIG. 23 shows a flow chart of the decision logic describing theauthentication process of an electronic audio/video data file retrievedvia the Internet for playing.

FIG. 24 shows a flow chart of the decision logic describing theauthentication process of an electronic audio/video data file retrievedvia the Internet for copying.

FIG. 25 is an illustration of the architecture of the combined Internet,POTS and ADSL architecture for use in the present invention inaccordance with another design or embodiment.

FIG. 26 is another embodiment showing the use of various keys to build acombination key or keys in accordance with the present invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout thevarious figures.

NOTATIONS AND NOMENCLATURES

The detailed description that follows may be presented in terms ofprogram procedures executed on a computer or network of computers. Theseprocedural descriptions and representations are the means used by thoseskilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of theirwork to others skilled in the art.

A procedure is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistentsequence of steps leading to a desired result. These steps are thoserequiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, thoughnot necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical ormagnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined,compared and otherwise manipulated. It proves convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or thelike. It should be noted, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to in terms,such as adding or comparing, which are commonly associated with mentaloperations performed by a human operator. No such capability of a humanoperator is necessary, or desirable in most cases, in any of theoperations described herein which form part of the present invention;the operations are machine operations. Useful machines for performingthe operation of the present invention include general purpose digitalcomputers or similar devices.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for performing theseoperations. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the requiredpurpose or it may comprise a general purpose computer as selectivelyactivated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in a computer.The procedures presented herein are not inherently related to aparticular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose machinesmay be used with programs written in accordance with the teachingsherein, or it may prove more convenient to construct more specializedapparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structurefor a variety of these machines will appear from the description given.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a method and system for minimizingpirating and/or unauthorized copying and/or unauthorized access to dataon data media, including CDs and DVDs. Generally, an authorized CD, orother data media, is designed to require decoding by an authorized discplayer. The authorized CD, for example, includes certain informationused by an authorized CD player for playing music. An unauthorizedcopied, formed or pressed CD, however, does not have the requisiteencryption or decryption key(s) necessary for decoding.

Consequently, a feature and advantage of the present invention is toprevent piracy of audio and/or video data from discs; that is to providegreatly enhanced security measures against CD or DVD pirating.

The present invention is based, in part, on my discovery that theauthentication key(s) need not necessarily be transferred in theaudio/video using conventional hardware and/or software in CD or DVDplayers that may be adapted in one or more ways described below.

In the present invention, this is accomplished by using lookup table(s)to intentionally break or modify standard eight-to-fourteen oreight-to-sixteen modulation rules by which bit patterns are recorded asone symbol sequence on a data disc. In the eight-to-fourteen modulationsystem, for example, the lookup table intentionally breaks or modifiesthe rules in a predetermined manner by which 3 merging bits are added to14 EFM bit patterns in order to form 17-channel bit patterns. And eachbroken rule value is cut into the disc at recording.

Singular or multi-level authentication systems may be used forpreventing unauthorized copying of audio data or other data on a disc.Similarly, two or three different authentication systems, each of whichsuccessively must be deciphered before the audio/video is finallyavailable, may also be used.

Advantageously, the present invention optionally uses three or fourdifferent sources for making or compiling a long or compoundauthentication keys. Thus, in other words, instead of, or in additionto, having a multi-layered decryption or authentication system, thepresent invention optionally includes a multi-level authentication key,each component of which must be found in order to build the whole key toperform the entire authentication process.

According to the present invention, use of the lookup table can beemployed in both the eight-to-fourteen (EFM) modulation system,typically used for CDs, and in the eight-to-sixteen modulation system,typically used for DVDs or other similar modulation schemes. Use of thelookup table to produce authentications keys is generally a function ofthe physical characteristics of a disc that do not normally travel withthe audio or video or graphics data.

A further advantage of the present invention is that a broken ormodified rule value can be cut into a disc on a per track basis or atintervals throughout the disc. This means that the same type ofauthentication process may be performed for each track to be played, ormay be performed throughout the playing or recording process. Thus, itis important to note that each track of a CD or DVD can optionallyinclude a different authentication key.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram by which a broken/modified rule value isderived and recorded into the signal surface of a data disc, such as aDVD. More specifically, data 2, which are generally composed of 8 bits,are converted into modulated bit patterns, which are generally composeof 16 bits.

Modulation is achieved by a standard eight-to-sixteen modulator 4.Unlike the EFM system for CDs, the resulting 16 bits, which areultimately cut into the DVD's surface, have two (instead of 1) values ofoutput 6 that input to a standard demodulating device 8. Demodulatingdevice 8 selects one output value, for example O_(1a), depending on thesequence of each 8 bit pattern.

However, lookup table 10, attached to demodulating device 8,intentionally interferes with or alters the output value selectionprocess performed by demodulating device 8 such that device 8 selects anotherwise incorrect output value O_(1b) instead. This value is thenrecorded in the signal surface of the DVD by the standard constantlinear velocity system, during the manufacturing process, as at 12. Allof this occurs on the recording side of the pulse code modulation (PCM)system or similar recording system.

Subsequently, a master disc is prepared. The signal surface of a DVD isformed by the master disc with the patterns of microscopic bumps, calledpits, of predetermined width and/or height. The pattern of pits andlands (non-pitted, flat surfaces) are determined in accordance with thevalue of each 16 channel bit pattern. Hence, the master disc is preparedin such a way that, during its rotation by a disc motor, the master discis formed with pits followed by lands on tracks to be formed by a laser.

These pit and land patterns are subsequently transferred from theprepared master disc onto the signal surface of a DVD 14. Further, alight reflection film, such as aluminum, is deposited by vacuumevaporation onto the whole surface of the disc, including the pits, anda protective transparent layer is formed thereon. The reflection oflight that strikes the pits and lands contained on the DVD's surface,are different. Owing to the changes of these light reflectances, theeight-to-sixteen modulation channel bits are reproduced to read the dataduring playback of the DVD.

However, as described below, any modulation technique may be used withthe look-up table or similar rules-bases system, as well as with otherembodiments of the invention described herein. For example, theeight-to-fourteen modulation technique, generally applicable for CDs, isequally compatible with the lookup table of the present invention.

By way of example, in the EFM system, each 8-bit data is converted intoEFM bit patterns, generally composed of 14 bits. To this 14 bit patternsare added, for example, 3 merging symbols, or other number of mergingsymbols, in order to form a 17-channel bit, which is recorded as onesymbol sequence on a CD.

All of the above process occurs on the recording side of the pulse codemodulation (PCM) system. There are certain rules in the PCM system bywhich the 3 merging symbols are generally formed, for subsequentaddition to the 14 EFM bit patterns, as at 8.

It is at this juncture that intentional breaking or modification of therules occur, via lookup table 10. For a CD, which has a singular outputvalue (instead of the 2 output values DVD requires), breaking isaccomplished by configuring the value of the 3 merging bits to be ‘312’where it should read ‘123’, for example. The lookup table 10intentionally breaks the rules by which the 3, or other number of,merging bits are formed, and each broken rule value is cut into the discat recording.

Thus, look-up table 26 is basically a table of values that is stored ona data media memory device, such as a CD ROM, and retrievable bystandard predetermined logic or algorithms. Look-up table 26 translatesdata that has been obtained or read from a disc into an otherwiseincorrect or modified final stream of zeros and ones whose combinationwill serve as an authentication key or keys, or portion(s) of key(s).Also, the 8 bits, or other number of bits, of data entering look-uptable 26 may alternatively comprise data from the error correctioncomponent of the signal from the disc, such as the audio, correctedaudio, or corrected video for a DVD.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic of a modified disc player, such as a DVDplayer, of the present invention, which includes a demodulation device,fraud detector and a lookup table. Upon playback, the disc player beginsreading DVD 14 by detecting bits from the disc's surface, as at 22. Oncedata is recovered from disc 14, it must be demodulated, as at 31; thatis, the DVD player must go through a series of activities to decodeaudio information in order to reconstruct an audio signal.

The other elements of the audio data path whose interaction ultimatelyproduces a stereo analog signal include buffer 26, an error correctioncircuit, as at 28, de-interleaving RAM 30, a standard 16 to 8demodulator 32 and connecting lookup table 10, a fraud detector 34,which contains an authentication module, concealment and demultiplexingcircuit 36, and digital filters 38. The process of converting digitaldata to a stereo analog signal requires one or two digital-to-analogconverters 40 and low-pass filters 42.

The servo control system 44 along with a display system, as at 46, worktogether in controlling mechanical operation of the DVD player. Theseoperations include the player's spindle drive as well as auto-trackingand auto-focusing functions. Both systems 44, 46 also directs the userinterface to the DVD player's controls 48 and displays.

A standard microprocessor or other data processor (not shown) monitorsuser controls and their interface to the player's circuitry, whichincludes subcode data decoding, as at 50. Subcode data plays importantrole in directing the pickup to the proper disc location. Moreover, thevarious elements of the DVD player shown in FIG. 11 are closelyinterrelated in a timing relationship, as at 50, 52, that determinescorrect rotating speed and data output rate, for example.

All of the above components illustrated in FIG. 11 generally comprisestandard components in DVD players, with the exception of the modifiedlookup table 10 and fraud detector 34. Lookup table 10, like frauddetector 34, comprises a separate data processor, such as a standardprocessor, that performs the functions described herein. Alternatively,lookup table 10 and fraud detector 34 may advantageously be implementedon the existing processing hardware currently existing in DVD players.

Look-up table 10, as an authentication mechanism, may be used with otherauthentication techniques described herein, to obtain, for example, adouble or triple security authentication system using two or threedifferent keys, or gathering these keys.

In accordance with the present invention of using a look-up table 10 formodulating data input to a DVD or CD, the modulated data is lost on thedigital output, and therefore difficult to pirate. This is in contrastto the direct EFM output, which is designed to include modulatedinformation in the audio, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,735,incorporated herein by reference.

As previously mentioned, the EFM modulation system is often referred toin this manner, because it contains the 8-14 modulation on a CD. Ingeneral, conventional EFM systems will transfer intentional errorsduring a normal output. So, the basis of the EFM system for generatingan authentication key or component of a key, is that no error correctionis performed on the digital signal. On the other hand, the basis of thephysical keys is that error correction is performed on the digitalsignal.

Again, the modified lookup table could be used in combination orindividually to derive part, or one, of the authentication key(s). Thistechnique of intentionally interfering with conventional modulationrules could also be used to gate or compile one of the other keys on adisc, such that the lookup table may be used to generate separate keys,or part of one key, or pick out a key from the whole stream of data.

An advantage of the look-up table is that it provides extra insulationagainst spurious activities of a potential hacker.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart of the decision logic describingoperation of a disc player when attempting to play a CD in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention. For simplicity, the followingsteps are identified in the drawings by the letter “S” preceding thereference numeral; that is, Step 60 is shown in the drawings as “S60”,etc.

The process begins at S60 (Step 60) when a DVD is inserted into a DVDplayer. The player begins reading the DVD (Step 62) by detecting bitsfrom the disc's surface (Step 64). Once the data is recovered, the datais demodulated using, for example, eight-to-sixteen modulation (Step66). The demodulated data is sent to a buffer (Step 68).

At Step 70, the DVD player's circuitry or processes must determinewhether the data on the DVD contains the intentionally broken ormodified modulation rule values. If not, the disc is determined to befraudulent (Step 72), and the player ends playback activity (Step 74).On the other hand, if it is found that the DVD contains predeterminedbroken or modified rule values, the next Step 76 is to read those valuesand determine authentication key(s), and an optical operation performedby a standard decryption algorithm located within the fraud detector'sauthentication module decrypts the authentication key.

Once the authentication key(s), based on the modified rules, is/are readinto the authentication or comparison algorithm (Step 78), it is thendetermined whether the derived authentication key(s) is/are correct(Step 80). The authentication algorithm in the DVD player will have acomponent or components or keys corresponding to the authenticationkey(s), for example, stored on the DVD. If comparison of the componentwith the key(s) does not substantially match using optional standardmatching algorithms, the DVD is determined to be fraudulent (Step 82),and playback activity ends (Step 84).

If, on the other hand, it is determined that the derived component orkeys correctly matches each authentication key, the player's circuitryis triggered to begin the error removal process (Step 86) in whicherrors and each predetermined authentication key are removed, data isfiltered (Step 88) and ultimately converted to sensible audible outputdata (Steps 90, 92). While the above description focuses on a particularsequence of process steps, the present invention may alternatively beused via a different sequence of the above described steps.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart of the decision logic describingoperations when a first CD plays the data to be recorded by a second CD.For simplicity, the DVD player will be referenced as player #1, and theDVD recorder will be referenced as recorder #2. Also, the first DVDplayed by player #1 will be referenced as DVD #1, and the second DVDrecorded by recorder #2 will be referenced as DVD #2.

At inception, (Step 100), DVD player #1 is connected to the output portof recorder #2, or other standard means for capturing the output ofplayer #1. Playback begins when DVD #1 is inserted into player #1 (Step102). Recording begins when DVD #2 is inserted into recorder #2 (Step104). The next step in DVD player #1 is the reading of DVD #1 (Step106), by detecting bits contained on the surface of DVD #1 (Step 108).

Once the data is recovered, the data is demodulated using, for example,eight-to-sixteen modulation or other standard modulation (Step 110). Thedemodulated data is transferred and stored in a buffer (Step 112).

At Step 114 (S114) depicted in FIG. 13, the player's circuitry mustdetermine whether the data on DVD #1 contains the broken or modifiedrule value(s) produced by the lookup table. If not, the disc isdetermined to be fraudulent (Step 116), and player #1 ends playbackactivity (Step 118). See FIG. 14.

On the other hand, if it is found that DVD #1 contains the broken ormodified rule value(s), the next step S120 in FIG. 15 is to read eachvalue and determine or derive authentication key(s). Any standarddecryption algorithm may optionally be used to further decrypt thederived authentication key, such as the standard data encryptionstandard (DES) and the like, located within the authentication module ofDVD player #1. See FIG. 15.

Once each authentication key is read into a standard authentication orcomparison algorithm (Step 122) in a standard manner, it is thendetermined whether each, or combination of, authentication key(s) iscorrect (Step 124). The authentication algorithm in DVD player #1 willhave or compare a component or key stored thereon with theauthentication key(s) on or derived from DVD #1. If comparison of thekey(s) does not result in a substantial match, DVD #1 is determined tobe fraudulent (Step 126), and playback activity ends (Step 128).

If, on the other hand, it is determined in Step 124 that the keyssubstantially match each other, the player's circuitry is triggered tobegin the error removal process (Step 130), in which errors andauthentication key(s) are removed, and the data is filtered (Step 132)and ultimately converted to sensible audible output data (Step 134).

Referring to FIG. 16, at this juncture, the authentication process forplaying the DVD is completed, and recorder #2 receives the audio datafrom DVD #1 (Step 136). This data is free of broken or modified rulevalues and authentication key(s). Upon receipt, DVD recorder #2 recordsthe data onto DVD #2, a copy (Step 138). If DVD #2 is later insertedinto a DVD player of the present invention, (e.g., a DVD player equippedwith a lookup table and fraud detector), it will be determined to be afraudulent DVD pursuant to the above-mentioned process of FIG. 12,because DVD #2 does not contain the requisite predetermined broken ormodified rule values for authentication since these values were nottransferred in the data, such as the audio data (Step 140).

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a main central processing unit forimplementing the computer processing in accordance with a computerimplemented embodiment of the present invention, when the data playerand/or recorder is part of a personal computing system. The proceduresdescribed above may be presented in terms of program procedures executedon, for example, a computer or network of computers.

Viewed externally in FIG. 17, a computer system designated by referencenumeral 140 has a central processing unit 142 having disc drives 144 and146. Disc drive indications 144, 146 are merely symbolic of a number ofdisc drives that might be accommodated by the computer system. Typicallythese would include a floppy disc drive such as 144, a hard disc drive(not shown externally) and a CD ROM indicated by slot 146. The numberand type of drives varies, typically with different computerconfigurations. Disc drives 144, 146 are in fact optional, and for spaceconsiderations, may be easily omitted from the computer system used inconjunction with the production process/apparatus described herein.

The computer also has an optional display 148 upon which information isdisplayed. In some situations, a keyboard 150 and a mouse 152 may beprovided as input devices to interface with the central processing unit142. Then again, for enhanced portability, the keyboard 150 may beeither a limited function keyboard or omitted in its entirety. Inaddition, mouse 152 may be a touch pad control device, or a track balldevice, or even omitted in its entirety as well. In addition, thecomputer system also optionally includes at least one infraredtransmitter 176 and/or infrared receiver 178 for either transmittingand/or receiving infrared signals, as described below.

FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram of the internal hardware of thecomputer of FIG. 17. A bus 156 serves as the main information highwayinter-connecting the other components of the computer. CPU 158 is thecentral processing unit of the system, performing calculations and logicoperations required to execute a program. Read only memory (ROM) 160 andrandom access memory (RAM) 162 constitute the main memory of thecomputer. Disc controller 164 interfaces one or more disc drives to thesystem bus 156. These disc drives may be floppy disc drives such as 170,or CD ROM or DVD (digital video disc) drives such as 166, or internal orexternal hard drives 168. As indicated previously, these various discdrives and disc controllers are optional devices.

A display interface 172 interfaces display 148 and permits informationfrom the bus 156 to be displayed on the display 148. Again as indicated,display 148 is also an optional accessory. For example, display 148could be substituted or omitted. Communication with external devices,for example, the components of the apparatus described herein, occursusing communications port 174. For example, optical fibers and/orelectrical cables and/or conductors and/or optical communication (e.g.,infrared and the like) and/or wireless communication (e.g., radiofrequency (RF) and the like) can be used as the transport medium betweenthe external devices and communication port 174.

In addition to the standard components of the computer the computer alsooptionally includes at least one of infrared transmitter 176 or infraredreceiver 178. Infrared transmitter 176 is used when the computer systemis used in conjunction with one or more of the processingcomponents/stations that transmits/receives data via infrared signaltransmission.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the internal hardware of the computer ofFIG. 17 in accordance with a second embodiment. In FIG. 19, instead ofutilizing an infrared transmitter or infrared receiver, the computersystem uses at least one of a low power radio transmitter 180 and/or alow power radio receiver 182. The low power radio transmitter 180transmits the signal for reception by components of the productionprocess, and receives signals from the components via the low powerradio receiver 182. The lower power radio transmitter and/or receiver180, 182 are standard devices in industry.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of an exemplary memory medium which can beused with disc drives illustrated in FIGS. 17-19. Typically, memorymedia such as floppy discs, or a CD ROM, or a digital video disc willcontain, for example, a multi-byte locale for a single byte language andthe program information for controlling the computer to enable thecomputer to perform the functions described herein. Alternatively, ROM160 and/or RAM 162 illustrated in FIGS. 18-19 can also be used to storethe program information that is used to instruct the central processingunit 158 to perform the operations associated with the productionprocess.

Although processing system 140 is illustrated having a single processor,a single hard disc drive and a single local memory, processing system140 may suitably be equipped with any multitude or combination ofprocessors or storage devices. Processing system 140 may, in point offact, be replaced by, or combined with, any suitable processing systemoperative in accordance with the principles of the present invention,including sophisticated calculators (and hand-held), laptop/notebook,mini, mainframe and super computers, as well as processing systemnetwork combinations of the same.

Conventional processing system architecture is more fully discussed inComputer Organization and Architecture, by Williams Stallings, McMillanPublishing Co. (3rd ed. 1993); conventional processing system networkdesign is more fully discussed in Data Network Design, by Darren L.Spohn, McGraw-Hill, Inc. (1993), and conventional data communications ismore fully discussed in Data Communications Principles, by R. D. Gitlin,J. F. Hayes and S. B. Weinstein, Plenum Press (1992) and The IrwinHandbook of Telecommunications, by James Harry Green, Irwin ProfessionalPublishing (2nd ed. 1992). Each of the foregoing publications isincorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, the hardware configuration may be arranged according tothe multiple instruction multiple data (MIMD) multiprocessor format foradditional computing efficiency. The details of this form of computerarchitecture are disclosed in greater detail in, for example, U.S. Pat.No. 5,163,131; Boxer, A., “Where Buses Cannot Go”, IEEE SPECTRUM,February 1995, pp. 41-45; and Barroso, L. A. et al., “RPM: A RapidPrototyping Engine for Multiprocessor Systems”, IEEE COMPUTER, February1995, pp. 26-34, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In alternate preferred embodiments, the above-identified processor, andin particular microprocessing circuit 158, may be replaced by orcombined with any other suitable processing circuits, includingprogrammable logic devices, such as PALs (programmable array logic) andPLAs (programmable logic arrays), DSPs (digital signal processors),FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), ASICs (application specificintegrated circuits), VLSIs (very large scale integrated circuits) orthe like.

FIG. 21 shows a plurality of disc players and disc recorders 186, 188,190, 192, 194, 196 and work stations 198, 200, 202 connected to a globalnetwork, such as the Internet 220, via an Internet Service Provider 204,in accordance with one embodiment. The above system also accommodatesInternet access to electronic audio/video data files through homeelectronic equipment, such as television/stereos 206 and cable/modem208. Thus, data may emanate from, or be transmitted to, any one of thesestations or devices.

FIGS. 22-23 shows the authentication process as it applies toInternet-related playing and copying. For instance, FIG. 22 shows ablock diagram of the process by predetermined broken rule values,produced from the lookup table, are stored in an electronic file, andare used as an authentication key or keys for authenticating theexistence of a non-pirated efile. The process begins with a data media,which may be a disc, a computer or network of computers, such as theInternet, capable of storing data.

In this embodiment, the data is an electronic video or audio data file(“efile”) 210 into which broken rule values are reproduced. These valuesare mixed and edited with the original video or audio data and stored inthe efile.

The resulting data (“efile data”) 212 containing each broken or modifiedrule value is transmitted into an authentication module 216 when efile210 is requested by a user over the Internet. Authentication module 216is disposed, for example, at the ISP's web site 214, which uses eachbroken rule value in efile data 212 as a key or keys or componentsthereof, for authenticating whether efile 210 is a non-pirated file.Once efile 210 is authenticated, authentication module 216 transfersdata 212 to a decoder web crawler 218, which intakes the data,manipulates it, performs error correction and outputs corrected data219. The new corrected data 219 is free of all broken or modified rulevalues and authentication keys, and contains the original (audio and/orvideo) data only.

The above description is one example of the architecture used toimplement the present invention, and other architectures may also beused. For example, the ISP website and/or server need not physicallyhouse or contain the authentication or decoder modules, but one or bothof these devices may be disposed remote to the ISP website and/orserver.

FIG. 23 illustrates a flow chart of the decision logic describing theauthentication process of an electronic audio/video data file retrievedvia the Internet for playing. The process begins at Step 150 (S156) whena user accesses music and/or video file(s) on the Internet via an ISP'sweb site 214. The ISP's decoder web crawler 218 begins reading the efile210, (Step 152), looking for broken or modified rule value(s) producedby the lookup table (Step 154). If no modulated data is found, efile 210is determined to be fraudulent, (Step 156), and efile 210 is nottransmitted to the user (Step 158). Thus, unauthorized access isprevented.

On the other hand, if it is found that efile 210 contains at least onebroken rule output value, the next Step 160 is to read those values anddetermine the authentication key(s), an operation performed by anauthentication algorithm located within authentication module 216.

Once the authentication key(s) or components thereof is/are read intothe authentication algorithm and optionally decrypted, (Step 162), it isthen determined whether the authentication key(s) is/are correct (Step164). The authentication algorithm at the ISP's web site 214 will have acomponent corresponding to the authentication key(s) in efile 210. Ifcomparison of the component with the key(s) does not match, efile 210 isdetermined to be fraudulent (Step 166), and efile 210 is not transmittedto the user (Step 168).

If, on the other hand, it is determined that the component correctly orsubstantially matches the authentication key(s), error correctionoccurs, (Step 170), the broken rule value is filtered out, the data isconverted to sensible audio and/or video output data, and ultimatelytransmitted to the user (Step 172).

FIG. 24 illustrates a flow chart of the decision logic describing theauthentication process of an electronic audio/video data file retrievedvia the Internet for copying. The process begins at Step 174 (S174) whena user accesses music and/or file(s) on the Internet via an ISP's website 214. The ISP's decoder web crawler 218 reads the efile 210 (Step176) looking for each broken rule value (Step 178). If no values arefound, efile 210 is determined to be fraudulent (Step 180), and efile210 is not transmitted to the user (Step 182). Thus, unauthorized accessis prevented.

On the other hand, if it is found that efile 210 contains at least onebroken or modified rule value, the next Step 184 (S184) is to read thatthe value(s) and determine the authentication key(s), an operationperformed by an authentication algorithm located within authenticationmodule 216.

Once the authentication key or keys are read into the authenticationalgorithm (Step 186) and optionally decrypted, it is then determinedwhether each authentication key is correct (Step 188). Theauthentication algorithm at the ISP's web site 214 will have a componentcorresponding to the authentication key(s) in efile 210. If comparisonof the derived component or keys with the key(s) or components thereofdoes not match or substantially match, efile 210 is determined to befraudulent (Step 190), and efile 210 is not transmitted to the user(Step 192).

If, on the other hand, it is determined that the derived component orkeys correctly matches the authentication key(s), error correctionoccurs (Step 194), errors are removed, broken rule values are filteredout, and the data is converted to sensible audio and/or video outputdata, and ultimately transmitted to the user (Step 196). The user'scomputer receives an efile 210 free of errors, modified or broken rulevalues and, therefore, authentication key(s) (Step 198), at which pointa user may record the efile 120 (Step 200). This efile 210 is consideredfraudulent for purposes of future Internet use (S202), pursuant to theprocess outlined in FIG. 12, because it does not contain the requisitemodified or broken rule values/authentication keys, or component(s)thereof for subsequent authentication.

FIG. 25 is an illustration of the architecture of the combined Internet,POTS, and ADSL architecture for use in the present invention inaccordance with another embodiment. In FIG. 25, to preserve POTS and toprevent a fault in the ADSL equipment 254, 256 from compromising analogvoice traffic 226, 296 the voice part of the spectrum (the lowest 4 kHz)is optionally separated from the rest by a passive filter, called a POTSsplitter 258, 260. The rest of the available bandwidth (from about 10kHz to 1 MHZ) carries data at rates up to 6 bits per second for everyhertz of bandwidth from data equipment 262, 264, 294. The ADSL equipment256 then has access to a number of destinations including significantlythe Internet 268, and other destinations 270, 272.

To exploit the higher frequencies, ADLS makes use of advanced modulationtechniques, of which the best known is the discrete multitone technology(DST). As its name implies, ADSL transmits data asymmetrically—atdifferent rates upstream toward the central office 252 and downstreamtoward the subscriber 250.

Cable television providers are providing analogous Internet service toPC users over their TV cable systems by means of special cable modems.Such modems are capable of transmitting up to 30 Mb/s over hybridfiber/coax systems, which use fiber to bring signals to a neighborhoodand coax to distribute it to individual subscribers.

Cable modems come in many forms. Most create a downstream data streamout of one of the 6-MHZ television channels that occupy spectrum above50 MHZ (and more likely 550 MHz) and carve an upstream channel out ofthe 5-50 MHZ band, which is currently unused. Using 64-state quadratureamplitude modulation (64 QAM), a downstream channel can realisticallytransmit about 30 Mb/s (the oft-quoted lower speed of 10 Mb/s refers toPC rates associated with Ethernet connections). Upstream rates differconsiderably from vendor to vendor, but good hybrid fiber/coax systemscan deliver upstream speeds of a few megabits per second. Thus, likeADSL, cable modems transmit much more information downstream thanupstream.

The Internet architecture 220 and ADSL architecture 254, 256 may also becombined with, for example, user networks 222, 224, 228. As illustratedin this embodiment, users may access or use or participate in theadministration, or management computer assisted program in computer 240via various different access methods. In this embodiment, the variousdatabases 285, 286, 287 and/or 288, which may be used to store content,data and the like, are accessible via access to and/or by computersystem 240, and/or via Internet/local area network 220.

The above embodiments are only to be construed as examples of thevarious different types of computer systems that may be utilized inconnection with the computer-assisted and/or -implement process of thepresent invention. Further, while the above description has focused on8-16 or 8-14 modulated data into a specific media, such as a CD, thepresent invention may also be used to introduce such modulated data to adigital bit stream that is in the process of being transmitted from anoriginating area or device to a destination device.

That is, the authentication process of the present invention may be usedto authenticate a data stream or collection of data, as opposed to, orin addition to, authenticating a specific media that has been used toplay the data. In addition, various standard matching algorithms may beused to determine whether the generated authentication key(s) orcomponents thereof match or substantially match the stored key(s) orcomponents thereof accessible to the data player for authenticationpurposes.

FIG. 26 is an illustration of another embodiment showing the use ofvarious keys to build a combination key or keys in accordance with thepresent invention. Here, a combiner 300 is included to build anauthentication key based on discrete components. An authentication key301, based on a physical characteristics of a data disc, such as a CD,may comprise one component of an authentication key. Additionalauthentication keys, such as key 302 derived from embeddingpredetermined errors in a disc, or key 303 composed of aneight-to-sixteen modulation broken rule key, may comprise othercomponents of the same or different authentication key or keys. Anynumber of additional keys 304 may also be included. Moreover, if anaddition key 304 is an embedded signaling key, it is not lost, becauseit always travel with the audio, whether the audio data is encrypted ornot.

Thus, a pirate has two potential situations. First, if all theauthentication keys were lost, a pirate could take the audio safe fromthe analog domain, redigitize it, and create from scratch anauthentication key, data key and embedded key, using a homemadeencryption box. The pirate could also have made an audio disc and, usinghis own rules, manipulate various detectors to attempt playback of theCD; a fairly uncomplicated task.

On the other hand, if the pirate obtains a CD containing physical key301, predetermined errors data key 302, an eight-to-sixteen modulationbroken or modified rule key 303 and an embedded key, as at 304, andredigitizes them to make a unique disc, the pirate has one-third or onewhole key already, because embedded key 304 can be deciphered. Thismeans that the pirate must create matching pairs of the three remainingkeys 301, 302, 303 in order to decrypt the actual audio on the disc. Inshort, the task of pirating a CD under this scenario is infinitely morecomplicated as opposed to under the first scenario where a pirate canmerely pass old audio information through an encryption box.

There is an advantage to not losing all or parts of an authenticationkey or keys. Further, sending one of the keys inaudibly, placesadditional burden on a pirate in that inaudibility requires a pirate todetermine the identify of the inaudible key and produce a matching setof keys and encryption itself on a disc.

As herein described, the present invention considerably increases thedegree of difficulty required to pirate a CD or DVD, rather than havingall decryption keys lost.

Alternatively, the embedded signaling system, via an embedded key 304,can carry various detectable copyright flags. The advantage of thisembodiment is the requirement that each disc player must have anembedded signaling decoder not only in the disc player, but also in therecording or transmission device.

Recall that in general, such devices would not normally handle theactual analog plain text audio, or even the digital plain text audio.Generally, these devices handle encrypted audio data. And in thesecases, because the encrypted audio data loses two-thirds of itsdecryption key(s), the information becomes non-decryptable unless theaudio is played on a licensed platform that obeys copying and otherrules.

The embedded signaling key, as previously indicated, travels with theanalog signal. If both data and key are to be re-digitized and inputinto a digital recorder, there must be industry agreement that anembedded signal decoder and any decoded signal, for that matter, doesnot look for the decryption key(s) in the form of an embedded key.

In other words, if an embedded key is obtained by a signal seeking todecrypt the embedded key only, as opposed to a signal seeking to decryptall embedded, data and physical keys together, then the former signalwill be deemed to be a fraudulent signal from whatever source it isderived, and recording will not be triggered.

Indeed, there may be a legal reason to be able to detect on a disc anauthorization flag of some sort, and place that flag in the embeddedsignal, in order to allow a user to record the disc. Alternatively, thismethod above may be used to prevent a disc recorder from recording. Thismethod may also be used to place a notice on a computer platform, forexample, indicating to a user that recording onto a hard drive or floppydisc is prohibited until the user call a particular telephone number andprovide credit card information. A nominal charge is optionally made forthe purpose.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification. Thus, it is intended by the appended claims tocover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerousmodifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructionand operation illustrated and described. Accordingly, all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to as falling within thescope of the invention.

1. A method for authenticating at least one of a media and data storedon said media, in order to prevent at least one of piracy, unauthorizedaccess and unauthorized copying of the data stored on said media,wherein said data stored on said media is modulated via at least onemodified modulation rule to generate at least one authentication key orcomponent thereof for authenticating at least one of said media and saiddata, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reading the data fromsaid media; (b) detecting the modulation of the at least one modifiedmodulation rule associated with the data; (c) deriving an embeddedauthentication key or component thereof responsive to said detectingstep (b); (d) comparing the embedded authentication key or componentthereof, to at least one authentication key or component thereof; (e)authenticating the at least one of said media and said data responsiveto said comparing step (d); and (f) outputting said data as at least oneof audio, video, audio data, video data and digital data substantiallyfree of the modulation of the at least one modified modulation rule. 2.A method according to claim 1, wherein said deriving step (c) derivesthe embedded authentication key or component thereof as a combination ofon-off binary codes representing ones and zeros to represent apredetermined symbol sequence.
 3. A method according to claim 1, whereinsaid outputting step (f) further includes the step of converting saiddata into a stereo analog signal without transferring, in the data, themodulation of the at least one modulation rule used to derive theembedded authentication key or component thereof.
 4. A method accordingto claim 1, and further including the step of: (g) locating at least onemodified modulation rule on at least one of a per track basis andinterval basis throughout said media such that said authentication step(e) is performed for at least one of each track to be played, throughoutplayback and throughout recording.
 5. A method according to claim 1,wherein said authenticating step (e) further includes a step ofauthenticating using a different authentication key or component thereoffor each disc track.
 6. A method according to claim 1, said methodcomprises the step of authenticating the at least one of the data andthe media via at least two different authentication keys, each of whichsuccessively must be authenticated before said data is finally outputvia said outputting step (f).
 7. A method according to claim 1, whereinsaid method authenticates the at least one of the media and the dataover a plurality of interconnected computer networks comprising at leastone of a local network, global network and the Internet.
 8. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said authenticating step (e) furtherincludes a step of using at least three different sources for compilingcompound authentication keys.
 9. A method according to claim 1 whereinsaid deriving step (c) further comprises the step of at least one ofdecoding and decrypting the embedded authentication key or componentthereof for subsequent authentication.
 10. A method according to claim 1wherein said comparing step (d) further comprises the step of comparingthe at least one modified modulation rule comprising the at least oneauthentication key or component thereof, to at least one lookup table ofvalid modified modulation rule output values comprising the at least oneauthentication key or component thereof.
 11. A data disc forauthenticating at least one of said data disc and data stored on saidmedia data disc, in order to prevent at least one of piracy,unauthorized access and unauthorized copying of the data stored on saiddata disc, the data disc comprising at least one modified modulationrule comprising at least one authentication key or component thereof forauthenticating at least one of said data disc and said data, whereinsaid at least one of said data disc and said data may be outputted in atleast one of an analog and audio form substantially error free and freeof said at least one modified modulation rule by at least one of anerror removal process and said at least one authentication key orcomponent thereof, thereby allowing a user to experience said datawithout experiencing said modulation rules removed therefrom via saiderror removal process.
 12. The data disc of claim 11, wherein said atleast one modified modulation rule is located on at least one of a pertrack basis and interval basis throughout said data disc such thatauthenticating is performed for at least one of each track to be playedthroughout playback and throughout recording.
 13. The data disc of claim11, wherein authentication occurs using a different authentication keyor component thereof for each disc track.
 14. The data disc of claim 11,wherein authentication occurs using at least two differentauthentication key, each of which must be successively authenticatedbefore said data is output.
 15. The data disc of claim 11, whereinauthentication occurs using at least three different sources forcompiling compound authentication keys.
 16. The data disc of claim 11,wherein authentication occurs via decoding or decrypting the embeddedauthentication key or component thereof for subsequent authentication.17. In a method for authenticating at least one of a media and datastored on said media, in order to prevent at least one of piracy,unauthorized access and unauthorized copying of the data stored on saidmedia, wherein said data stored on said media is modulated via at leastone modified modulation rule to generate at least one authentication keyor component thereof for authenticating at least one of said media andsaid data, a data player comprising a data processor performing thesteps of: (a) reading the data from said media; (b) detecting themodulation of the at least one modified modulation rule associated withthe data; (c) deriving an embedded authentication key or componentthereof responsive to said detecting step (b); (d) comparing theembedded authentication key or component thereof, to at least oneauthentication key or component thereof; (e) authenticating at least oneof said media and said data responsive to said comparing step (d); and(f) outputting said data as at least one of audio, video, audio data,video data and digital data substantially free of the modulation of theat least one modified modulation rule.
 18. The data processor of claim17, wherein said step of deriving includes deriving the embeddedauthentication key or component thereof as a combination of on-offbinary codes representing ones and zeros to represent a predeterminedsymbol sequence.
 19. The data processor of claim 17, wherein said stepof outputting includes converting said data into a stereo analog signalwithout transferring, in the data, the modulation of the at least onemodulation rule used to derive the embedded authentication key orcomponent thereof.
 20. The data processor of claim 17, wherein said dataprocessor further performs the step of locating at least one modifiedmodulation rule on at least one of a per track basis and interval basisthroughout said media such that said authenticating authenticates for atleast one of each track to be played throughout playback and throughoutrecording.
 21. The data processor of claim 17, wherein said step ofauthenticating further includes authenticating using a differentauthentication key or component thereof for each disc track.
 22. Thedata processor of claim 17, wherein said step of authenticating furtherincludes authenticating using at least two different authentication key,each of which must be successively authenticated before said data isoutput.
 23. The data processor of claim 17, wherein said step ofauthenticating further includes authenticating using at least threedifferent sources for compiling compound authentication keys.
 24. Thedata processor of claim 17, wherein said step of authenticating furtherincludes at least one of decoding or decrypting the embeddedauthentication key or component thereof for subsequent authentication.25. The data processor of claim 17, wherein said step of comparingfurther includes comparing the at least one modified modulation rule toat least one lookup table of valid modified modulation rule outputvalues comprising the at least one authentication key or componentthereof.
 26. A data storing device for authenticating at least one ofsaid data storing device and data to be stored on said data storingdevice, in order to prevent at least one of piracy, unauthorized accessand unauthorized copying of the data stored on said data storing device,the data storing device comprising at least one modified modulation ruleto generate at least one authentication key or component thereof forauthenticating at least one of said data storing device and said data,and wherein the modified modulation rule cannot be readily altered,obscured nor removed from said data without simultaneously degrading orimpairing a quality of an audible component of said data, and whereinthe data is transmitted substantially free of the modified modulationrule thereby preventing a destination processor from reading andsubsequently authenticating said data.
 27. The data storing device ofclaim 26, wherein said at least one modified modulation rule is locatedon at least one of a per track basis and interval basis throughout saiddata storing device such that authenticating is performed for at leastone of each track to be played throughout playback and throughoutrecording.
 28. The data storing device of claim 26, whereinauthentication occurs using a different authentication key or componentthereof for each disc track.
 29. The data storing device of claim 26,wherein authentication occurs using at least two differentauthentication key, each of which must be successively authenticatedbefore said data is output.
 30. The data storing device of claim 26,wherein authentication occurs using at least three different sources forcompiling compound authentication keys.
 31. The data storing device ofclaim 26, wherein authentication occurs via decoding or decrypting theembedded authentication key or component thereof for subsequentauthentication.
 32. A system for authenticating at least one of a mediaand data stored on said media, in order to prevent at least one ofpiracy, unauthorized access and unauthorized copying of the data storedon said media, wherein said data stored on said media is modulated viaat least one modified modulation rule to generate at least oneauthentication key or component thereof for authenticating at least oneof said media and said data, wherein said at least one of said media andsaid data may be outputted in an analog and/or audio form substantiallyerror free and free of said at least one modified modulation rule by atleast one of an error removal process and said at least oneauthentication key or component thereof, said system including a dataplayer containing a data processor comprising lookup table means forauthenticating said at least one of said media and said data and forintentionally breaking standard modulation rules by which bit patternsare recorded as one or more symbol sequences on a data media, saidlookup table means connected to a focus servo, tracking servo, laser,lens and mirror, together comprising a portion of a disc reader housedin a data player device.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein said atleast one modified modulation rule is located on at least one of a pertrack basis and interval basis throughout said media such thatauthenticating is performed for at least one of each track to be playedthroughout playback and throughout recording.
 34. The system of claim32, wherein authentication occurs using a different authentication keyor component thereof for each disc track.
 35. The system of claim 32,wherein authentication occurs using at least two differentauthentication key, each of which must be successively authenticatedbefore said data is output.
 36. The system of claim 32, whereinauthentication occurs using at least three different sources forcompiling compound authentication keys.
 37. The system of claim 32,wherein authentication occurs via decoding or decrypting the embeddedauthentication key or component thereof for subsequent authentication.38. A system for authenticating at least one of a media and data storedon said media, in order to prevent at least one of piracy, unauthorizedaccess and unauthorized copying of the data stored on said media,wherein said data stored on said media is modulated via at least onemodified modulation rule to generate at least one authentication key orcomponent thereof for authenticating at least one of said media and saiddata, wherein said at least one of said media and said data may beoutputted in an analog and/or audio form substantially error free andfree of said at least one modified modulation rule by at least one of anerror removal process and said at least one authentication key orcomponent thereof, said system including a data player containing a dataprocessor comprising a lookup table used by said data processor inintentionally modifying at least one modulation rule by which at leastone bit indicative of said modifying is generated as at least one symbolused by said system to authenticate said at least one of said media andsaid data stored on said media.
 39. The system of claim 38, wherein saidat least one modified modulation rule is located on at least one of aper track basis and interval basis throughout said media such thatauthenticating is performed for at least one of each track to be playedthroughout playback and throughout recording.
 40. The system of claim38, wherein authentication occurs using a different authentication keyor component thereof for each disc track.
 41. The system of claim 38,wherein authentication occurs using at least two differentauthentication key, each of which must be successively authenticatedbefore said data is output.
 42. The system of claim 38, whereinauthentication occurs using at least three different sources forcompiling compound authentication keys.
 43. The system of claim 38,wherein authentication occurs via decoding or decrypting the embeddedauthentication key or component thereof for subsequent authentication.44. A system for authenticating at least one of a media and data storedon said media, in order to prevent at least one of piracy, unauthorizedaccess and unauthorized copying of the data stored on said media,wherein said data stored on said media is modulated via at least onemodified modulation rule to generate at least one authentication key orcomponent thereof for authenticating at least one of said media and saiddata, said system comprising: means for reading the data from saidmedia; means for detecting the modulation of the at least one modifiedmodulation rule associated with the data; means for deriving an embeddedauthentication key or component thereof responsive to said means fordetecting; means for comparing the embedded authentication key orcomponent thereof, to at least one authentication key or componentthereof; means for authenticating the at least one of said media andsaid data responsive to said means for comparing; and means foroutputting said data as at least one of audio, video, audio data, videodata and digital data substantially free of the modulation of the atleast one modified modulation rule.
 45. The system of claim 44, whereinsaid means for deriving includes means for deriving the embeddedauthentication key or component thereof as a combination of on-offbinary codes representing ones and zeros to represent a predeterminedsymbol sequence.
 46. The system of claim 44, wherein said means foroutputting includes means for converting said data into a stereo analogsignal without transferring, in the data, the modulation of the at leastone modulation rule used to derive the embedded authentication key orcomponent thereof.
 47. The system of claim 44, further comprising meansfor locating at least one modified modulation rule on at least one of aper track basis and interval basis throughout said media such that saidmeans for authenticating authenticates for at least one of each track tobe played throughout playback and throughout recording.
 48. The systemof claim 44, wherein said means for authenticating further includesmeans for authenticating using a different authentication key orcomponent thereof for each disc track.
 49. The system of claim 44,wherein said means for authenticating further includes means forauthenticating using at least two different authentication key, each ofwhich must be successively authenticated before said data is output. 50.The system of claim 44, wherein said means for authenticating furtherincludes means for authenticating using at least three different sourcesfor compiling compound authentication keys.
 51. The system of claim 44,wherein said means for authenticating further includes at least one ofmeans for decoding or decrypting the embedded authentication key orcomponent thereof for subsequent authentication.
 52. The system of claim44, wherein said means for comparing further includes means forcomparing the at least one modified modulation rule to at least onelookup table of valid modified modulation rule output values comprisingthe at least one authentication key or component thereof.